Dorothy Pospisil

Dorothy Pospisil lived a life defined by faith, resilience, and joyful energy. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1929. Dorothy was the daughter of Rudolph, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, and Helen, from Slovenia. Their names are proudly etched on the wall at Ellis Island, a lasting tribute to the courage and determination that shaped Dorothy’s life from the beginning.

Dorothy was raised in a hardworking, entrepreneurial family alongside her sister Helen and brothers Rudy, Tom, and Edwin. Her father was a self-taught shoemaker and stationary engineer, and her mother was a self-trained seamstress who ran a successful clothing cleaning business. Dorothy’s childhood was filled with the values of determination, kindness, and service to others.

She attended Mark Twain Grammar School and Kelly High School, where she met George Pospisil in her senior year. Their connection quickly blossomed, and they married on July 17, 1948, at the Czechoslovak Baptist Church on Rockwell Street in Chicago. Together, they built a life full of love, music, and community.

Before starting her family, Dorothy worked as a secretary for a prominent Chicago business. In 1974, she began working at Reavis High School in Burbank, Illinois, as a “cleaning technician” and later served as the secretary for the Counseling Department, where she dedicated 10 years to the school before retiring with a well-earned pension.

Dorothy’s home was a place of open doors and warm hearts. She and George regularly hosted pastors, missionaries, and family gatherings, sharing home-cooked meals, stories, and music. Dorothy’s famous Czech strudel became a cherished family tradition. Her playful spirit came alive as she filled her home with music, playing the organ while George joined in on his harmonica.

Dorothy’s life was not without sorrow. She faced the loss of two of her children, David (1964) and Joan (1966), yet she carried these heartbreaks with remarkable strength and grace. Her boundless energy and deep love for her family never wavered. She often said her children were the ones who kept her going.

Throughout her life, Dorothy radiated joy. She had a passion for baking, crocheting, roller skating, and clog dancing. Her talents shone brightly at local fairs, where she proudly won numerous blue ribbons for her baked goods, crocheted items, and beautiful table arrangements. The October fairs were always a special highlight for her.

One of Dorothy’s most memorable adventures came later in life when she appeared on The Price Is Right. Wearing a shirt that read, “I clog so my arteries don't,” Dorothy caught the attention of host Drew Carey, who asked her to show off her clogging skills on stage and doing so effortlessly. Winning the showcase was the icing on the cake, a perfect tribute to her vibrant and joyful nature.

After George’s retirement from Western Electric in 1985, the couple moved to Hemet and later to Homeland, California, where they embraced what Dorothy fondly called “the good life.” They shared 66 devoted years of marriage until George’s passing in December 2014.

In her later years, Dorothy moved to Salinas California to live near her daughter Kathy and her three grandchildren for love, help and support. She eventually returned to Homeland to be with Emma and Ken for help, love and support where she owned two homes before settling into assisted living. True to her nature, she embraced this new chapter with humor, often praising the food and the care she received, affectionately calling it her “final resting place.”

Dorothy is survived by her loving children: Kenneth (Emma) Susan (Keith) , and Kathy along with 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Her radiant smile, quick wit, and compassionate heart touched all who knew her. Dorothy’s legacy of faith, joy, and perseverance lives on in her family and in the countless lives she brightened along the way.

I want my 3 children, 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. I always loved them with all my heart and supported them in anything they did. I taught them to love the Lord and pray daily. Also to love one another, forgive one another as our Lord taught us.

We never know when we will see each other for the last time.